10 Most Underrated Offensive Recruits in Class of 2015

Pic courtesy 247SportsLawrence Cager is currently ranked as the nation's No. 50 WR, but after turning heads at The Opening, he's made a strong case to be billed as one of the most underrated weapons in the 2015 class.

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The 2015 class is stacked with plenty of offensive weapons destined to help keep scoreboard operators busy for the foreseeable future.

Jess Anders

Last season, Aledo High School set a national record for the most points scored in a single season en route to a 16-0 record and a state title, as noted by Greg Riddle of The Dallas Morning News.

One of the key cogs in the Bearcats' offensive explosion was running back Jess Anders, who accounted for 1,998 yards of total offense and 40 total touchdowns in 2013.

The 5’8”, 165-pounder averaged nearly 12 yards per touch.

Despite his level of production, Anders—who checks in as the nation’s No. 36 all-purpose running back—only received offers from four schools: Colorado State, Southern Miss, Texas State and UT-San Antonio. He committed to the Roadrunners in April.

While his offer list and ranking may not reflect it, Anders is one of the nation’s most explosive playmakers with the ball in his hands.

Lawrence Cager

The 6’5”, 202-pound receiver attended summer camps at Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Alabama and Ohio State. All of those schools ended up offering the Maryland native, who is currently ranked as the nation’s No. 50 wideout.

Judging by the recent surge of interest he’s generated, Cager—who hauled in 50 receptions for 580 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior—is a player whose ranking is poised to rise as signing day approaches.

Antonio Callaway

Pic courtesy 247Sports

From: Miami, FL (Booker T. Washington HS)

Ranking: 3-star, No. 112 Wide Receiver

Miami’s Booker T. Washington High School is no stranger to producing big-time recruits.

While Tornadoes running back Mark Walton is rated among the nation’s best at his position, wideout Antonio Callaway has just recently started to make waves with a strong showing on the summer camp circuit.

The 5’11”, 175-pound Callaway is ranked as the 112th best wideout in the 2015 class. However, he’s racked up 12 offers—including one personally delivered from Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher after a standout performance at FSU’s camp, as noted by Ryan of 247Sports (subscription required).

With offers from powerhouses such as FSU, Miami, Florida and Georgia, expect Callaway’s name to keep buzzing heading towards national signing day.

Oklahoma may have found another gem from the Pelican State with its most recent pledge Cody Ford—a mammoth offensive lineman who was committed to TCU.

As Joey Helmer of OUInsider detailed (subscription required) recently, Ford’s head coach at Pineville High School—Robbie Martin—offered high praise for his star pupil.

Yeah, he moves extremely well for someone his size. And as he continues to develop upper body strength, the sky’s the limit for him. You know, he’s got that good footwork, good quickness. He’s big and he plays—like I said, he plays nasty with aggressiveness, and I think he’ll be a good pickup for OU.

At 6’4”, 320 pounds, Ford is a versatile and athletic specimen capable of playing either guard or tackle at the next level. Currently rated as the nation’s 57th best offensive tackle, Ford’s skill set and size suggests that his current rating is vastly undervaluing his enormous potential.

De'Andre Johnson

In July of 2012, 3-star Jacksonville dual-threat quarterback De’Andre Johnson became Florida State’s second commitment in its 2015 class.

Two years later, Johnson is one of three field generals who have committed to play for Jimbo Fisher in Tallahassee.

Following the commitments of 4-star passers Deondre Francois and Kai Locksley on July 31, the 6’0”, 175-pound Johnson has become somewhat of a forgotten man among FSU’s star-studded class.

This is the case even though Johnson has starred at First Coast High School since his freshman season, completing more than 60 percent of his passes while throwing for 7,875 yards and 75 touchdowns over the last three seasons, according to MaxPreps.

Those sterling on-field credentials are part of what makes Johnson the most underappreciated member of the nation’s No. 6 class.

Bryce Perkins

Arizona State has put together a solid class, with 4-star quarterback Brady White serving as the headliner for Todd Graham’s 2015 group.

However, in-state 3-star passer Bryce Perkins is a player who has the chance to become a special player in Graham’s uptempo system.

The 6’2”, 200-pound triggerman for Chandler High School—who ranks as the nation’s No. 20 dual-threat quarterback—completed nearly 73 percent of his passes while throwing for 2,250 yards and 25 touchdowns in his first season as a starter. He also added another 808 yards and 18 scores on the ground.

Those numbers are comparable to former Chandler product and current UCLA standout Brett Hundley’s senior season on the prep level. As JC Shurburtt of 247Sports notes, even if things don’t work out for him at quarterback, Perkins possesses NFL-type potential if he switches to receiver.

With that type of athleticism and his ability to play other positions in college, Perkins is an intriguing talent whose stature should continue to rise during his senior season.

Kalen Whitlow

Kalen Whitlow is no stranger to the recruiting process. He saw his older brother, Jalen, go through it two years ago before deciding to sign with Kentucky.

Both brothers are on the move this summer due to transfers. Jalen is headed to Eastern Illinois while Kalen will line up for Northview High School in Dothan, Ala. after spending the last two years at Prattville (Ala.) High School.

The 6’1”, 180-pound Whitlow passed for 1,804 yards and 14 touchdowns over the last two seasons, according to MaxPreps.

His only two offers to date are from Navy and Appalachian State, but Northview head coach LaBrian Stewart notes that several schools such as South Florida, Cincinnati and Nevada have shown interest and other schools have mentioned the possibility of offering Whitlow as a corner.